Dear friends,
I hope that you are all doing well and staying safe. I know that the past year has been very difficult for us all, and these last few months are no exception. As the days begin to get brighter and we welcome the arrival of Spring, I am confident that better days are ahead.
I know that many of you have been following Canada’s vaccine procurement and rollout closely, and that everyone is eager to know when they might be able to receive their doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Below you will find the latest updates on our government’s response to the pandemic, including our work on vaccine procurement.
Support from the federal government continues to be available to Manitobans who are out of work, as well as for businesses that are shut down due to Covid-19 public health orders. You can find the most up to date information on Covid-19 benefits by clicking the link, here.
I know that many within our community continue to struggle with the very difficult circumstances we are in, and that the cold temperatures we are experiencing have not made this any easier. A reminder that you can always call 2-1-1, a helpline that is available 24/7, and can connect you to mental health and community services or visit wellnesstogether.ca for further support.
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.
Sincerely,
Terry Duguid
Member of Parliament
Winnipeg South
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UPDATES
Vaccine Procurement
To date, our federal government has delivered 1.4 million vaccines to the provinces and territories, so that they can administer them to Canadians.
We continue to be on track to receive 20 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines during the spring, and a total of 70 million doses by the end of September 2021. We will have enough vaccines in this country for each and every person who wishes to be vaccinated by the end of September.
To view regularly updated, publicly available data on our ongoing vaccine efforts, visit the link, here.
Pictured: Pfizer vaccines arriving in Canada.
Federal Support in Manitoba
The federal government continues to provide support to Manitoba, including through Red Cross Staff in long-term care homes, support with contact tracing calls, and additional support for lab capacity at Winnipeg’s National Microbiology Lab. To date, we have provided Manitoba with 741,176 rapid testing kits, and we continue to send shipments of PPE, including masks, respirators, face shields and gloves.
Support for Long-term Care Facilities
Thank you to everyone who has written in, emailed and phoned to express their concerns regarding our long-term care facilities. Our government strongly believes that we need to protect those living and working in long-term care. To immediately support long-term care facilities, we have provided provinces and territories with $740 million to bring in measures to control and prevent infections. We have also committed an additional $1B to create the Safe Long-Term Care Fund. Right now, our government is working closely with the provinces and territories to create new, national standards on long-term care.
Launch of Canada Healthy Communities Initiative
The Healthy Communities Initiative is an investment by the Government of Canada to transform public spaces in response to Covid-19. This initiative will provide funding to a broad range of organizations, including local governments, charities, Indigenous communities, and non-profits to help with projects that create safe public spaces, improve mobility options and provide digital solutions to connect people and improve health. Organizations are now able to apply for this funding at the following link: https://communityfoundations.ca/initiatives/chci/.
Investing in Public Transit
This week, our government announced $14.9 billion for public transit projects over the next eight years.
This will provide cities with predictable transit funding they need to plan for the future and is a key part of our plan to create new jobs and fight climate change. With today’s announcement, communities will have the efficient and modern public transit systems needed to rebuild a strong economy. For further details on this announcement, click the link, here.
IN OUR COMMUNITY
Meeting with Immigration Minister and Manitoba’s Post-Secondary Institutions
Last month, I had the pleasure of meeting with our Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino and the Presidents of our nine post-secondary institutions in Manitoba, to discuss the various challenges that professors, staff and students are facing during the pandemic. We had a fruitful conversation, and I greatly appreciated the feedback they were able to provide.
Safe Return to Class Fund Second Instalment
We know how incredibly difficult the pandemic has been for teachers, school staff and children, who have had to adapt to learning from home and wearing masks at school. To help keep them safe, our government has provided a top-up to the Safe Return to Class Fund.
Through this fund, Manitoba schools will be able to support adapted learning spaces, improve ventilation, increase hygiene and handwashing, and purchase PPE for students and staff. To learn more about the Safe Return to School Fund, visit: https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/01/29/support-students-and-school-staff-through-safe-return-class-fund.
Partnership between the Manitoba Métis Federation and the Government of Canada
Earlier this month, I was pleased to join my colleagues Minister Dan Vandal, MP Kevin Lamoureux and President Chartrand of the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) to announce that the federal government will provide $15 million to the MMF, dedicated to economic and business development. This is an important investment that will create good jobs and help build back our economy here in MB.
Enjoying Nature in Winnipeg South
It was great to get out and enjoy the fresh air and scenery at Kings Park in Winnipeg South!
COVID-19 SUPPORT PROGRAMS
For Individuals
Canada Recovery Benefit provides income support to employed & self-employed individuals who have been impacted by Covid-19 and are not eligible for Employment Insurance. For eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit the link, here.
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit provides income support to employed & self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to Covid-19. For eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit the link here.
Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit provides income support employed & self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care. For eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit the link, here.
For Businesses, Charities and Non-profit Organizations
Canada Emergency Business Account provides eligible businesses with a $60,000 loan, with $20,000 being forgivable if repaid by December 31, 2022. For eligibility requirements and details on the CEBA, visit https://ceba-cuec.ca/ or call the CEBA Call Centre at 1-888-324-4201.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy provides eligible businesses and non-profit organizations with subsidies to cover part of their employees’ wages, retroactive to March 15, 2020. For further details on this program, visit the link, here.
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy provides a direct rent and mortgage subsidy of up to 65% for qualifying businesses, charities and non-profits. An additional 25% in rent support is available for organizations that have been restricted by a mandatory public health order. For further details on the rent subsidy program, visit the link, here.
The Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program provides business heavily impacted by Covid-19 with access guaranteed, low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to cover operational cash flow needs. For further details on this program, visit the link, here.
LOCAL RESOURCES
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MORE INFORMATION
For all the latest news, please visit: canada.ca/coronavirus
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